Students got a first look at their sleek new £28m building on a day which was dubbed a milestone in their school’s history.

Hundreds of Kettering Science Academy pupils went through the doors of the school’s new multi-million pound complex at the start of the new term on Tuesday to look round their new building which contains classrooms, a theatre, sports hall and library.

School principal Martin Campbell said: “This is a historic day for Kettering Science Academy. This new building will enable pupils and staff to work in an environment fit for 21st century learning.

“This is the most prestigious building in the whole of Kettering.

“I think the pupils here will respond postively to the building and they will look after and care for it as they have seen the amount of time and effort that has gone into creating it.”

Work started on the building about 18 months ago and it marks the first phase of a huge refurbishment for the school.

The second part of the plan will be to demolish the older buildings in the school, and this is already under way. Once demolition is completed, the old site will be turned into parking and astroturf football pitches.

As pupils spilled into the new two-storey building at the academy, they were greeted by modern classrooms, a 450-seat theatre, a new sports hall, a design area, a canteen and music rooms which are linked up for recording.

The school, in Deeble Road, opened as an academy three years ago and is sponsored by the Brooke Weston Trust.

Sir Peter Simpson, CEO of the trust, was on hand to welcome students into their new home on Tuesday.

He said: “The most important thing about the new site is that we think we’ve managed to create a building that we think will look just as good in 30 years’ time.

“The architects have done a wonderful job and have created a very modern, resilient design.

“The older building which served us so well had reached the end of its lifespan.”

The school has said that it will open up its facilities, include a dance theatre, for the wider public to use them as well as the academy’s pupils.